Old faithful Nina ! there lies she, 



Her cold head on the cold earth pressed, 



As it was wont so lovingly 



To lie upon her master's breast. 



And there she stayed the livelong day, 



Mute, motionless, her sad watch keeping ; 



A stranger who had passed that way, 



Would have believed her dead or sleeping. 



But if a step approached the grave, 

 Her eye looked up with jealous care 



Imploringly, as if to crave 



That no rude foot should trample there. 



That night she came not as of late 



To her old charitable home : 

 The next day's sun arose and set, 



Night fell — and still she failed to come. 



Then the third day her pitying host 

 Went kindly forth to seek his guest, 



And found her at her mournful post 

 Stretched quietly, as if at rest. 



Yet she was not asleep nor dead ; 



And when her master's friend she saw, 

 The poor old creature raised her head, 



And moaned, and moved one feeble paw. 

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